Helmet with neck protection

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a helmet with neck protection, which comprises a helmet shell, a collision displacement sensor disposed in the helmet shell, a gas generator disposed at an inner side of a lower rim of the helmet shell, an airbag stored in the lower rim of the helmet shell. The gas generator is connected to the airbag. The collision displacement sensor is connected to the gas generator through a restraint control module and a wire in order for the gas generator to release gas to inflate the airbag when the collision displacement sensor senses danger, therefore the airbag forms an air curtain falling down to protect the cervical vertebra. The airbag is folded and hidden in the helmet and is opened to fall down to form an annular air curtain under dangerous circumstances to stand against the shoulder to support the helmet to reduce the pressure caused to the neck.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201811456903.5 filed on Nov. 30, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of helmet technology, and specifically to a helmet with neck protection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A helmet is an apparatus for protecting head, a hat worn by soldiers during training and combat, and also an indispensable traffic gear. Helmets are usually hemispherical and comprising an outer shell, a lining and a belt. The outer shell can be made of special steel, fiber reinforced plastic, reinforced plastic, leather, nylon and the like material to protect the head from being hurt by bullet, shrapnel and other hitters.

A prior art discloses a helmet, which comprises a helmet body and a helmet rim. A magnetic piece is embedded in a corresponding joint between a front portion of the helmet body and the helmet rim, and the helmet body and the helmet rim are mutually engaged due to magnetic interaction. When the helmet is damaged, a spare helmet rim can be replaced on the original helmet body, which therefore improves the utilization of the helmet body. The helmet has the advantages of being stable and convenient assembly.

Another prior art discloses a new detachable helmet, which comprises a helmet body, a connecting pin and a connecting string pin hole are both provided on a side of the first helmet section and a side of the second helmet section. A connecting pin and a connecting string pin hole are also provided on a left side of the third helmet section and a left side of the fourth helmet section. The first helmet section is connected to the second helmet section and the third helmet section respectively through the connecting pin and the connecting string pin hole. The second helmet section is connected to the fourth helmet section through the connecting pin and the connecting string pin hole. The fourth helmet section is connected to the third helmet section through connecting pin and the connecting string pin hole. The detachable helmet is disassembled into parts when it is not in use, which takes up less space and is easy to place in a cabinet.

Current helmets only prevent impact to the head, however if the impact is increased it can cause damage to the cervical vertebra.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at providing a helmet with neck protection. The helmet in the present invention is provided with an airbag folded and hidden in the helmet, which is opened to fall down to form an annular air curtain under dangerous circumstances. The annular air curtain stands against the shoulder to support the helmet to reduce the pressure caused to the neck and to protect the cervical vertebra.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned goal, the present invention provides a helmet with neck protection, which comprises a helmet shell, a collision displacement sensor disposed in the helmet shell, a gas generator disposed at an inner side of a lower rim of the helmet shell, and an airbag stored in the lower rim of the helmet shell. The gas generator is connected to the airbag. The collision displacement sensor is connected to the gas generator through a restraint control module and a wire in order for the gas generator to release gas to inflate the airbag when the collision displacement sensor senses danger, therefore the airbag forms an air curtain falling down to protect the cervical vertebra.

Optionally, the collision displacement sensor is an electronic acceleration sensor, an electromechanical sensor or a voltage type pressure sensor.

Optionally, the helmet further comprises a Doppler speed sensor for detecting a relative speed of the helmet and a peripheral object of reference and/or an infrared personnel sensor for detecting whether the helmet is in use. The Doppler speed sensor and/or the infrared personnel sensor are/is connected to the restraint control module.

Optionally, the gas generator is selected from one or more of a gas generating agent type gas generator, a pressure accumulator type gas generator and a two-stage gas-filled gas generator.

Optionally, the airbag is made of plain-woven nylon fiber, and an inner surface of the airbag is formed with a silicon coating.

Optionally, the lower rim of the helmet shell is provided with an annular groove receiving the folded airbag. An opening of the annular groove is covered with an artificial leather layer.

Optionally, the helmet shell is a full helmet or a half helmet.

Optionally, when the helmet shell is the full helmet, the air curtain is cylindrical; when the helmet shell is the half helmet, the air curtain is a C-shaped ring.

The present invention has the following merits:

The helmet in the present invention is provided with the collision displacement sensor, the airbag and the gas generator. The airbag is stored in the lower rim of the helmet shell. The gas generator releases gas to inflate the airbag when the collision displacement sensor senses danger, therefore the airbag forms an annular air curtain falling down to stand against the shoulder to support the helmet to reduce the pressure caused to the neck and to protect the cervical vertebra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a helmet neck protection with the cylindrical air curtain being opened according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a helmet with neck protection with a cylindrical air curtain being stored in an annular groove according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of a helmet neck protection with a C-shaped air curtain being opened according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1. helmet shell -   2. collision displacement sensor -   3. gas generator -   4. airbag -   5. wire -   6. annular groove

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The methods of carrying out the present invention are described below by way of specific embodiments. And those skilled in the art are able to understand other advantages and functions of the present invention from the disclosure.

It should be understood that the structures, the proportions, and the sizes illustrated in the drawings are only used for supporting the contents disclosed in the specification so as to give the skilled in the art a better understanding. These conditions are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention therefore are not technically meaningful. Any modifications to the structure, changes to the proportion or adjustments to the size, on the premises of not affecting the effects and the achievable objects of the present invention, are able to fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention. In the meantime, the terms ‘upper’, ‘lower’, ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘intermediate’, and the like, are used in this specification for convenience of description only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Changes or adjustments to the relative positions are considered to be within the scope of the present invention without substantial changes.

Embodiment 1

The present embodiment provides a helmet with neck protection. As shown in figure land FIG. 3, the helmet comprises a helmet shell 1, a collision displacement sensor 2 disposed in the helmet shell 1, a gas generator 3 disposed at an inner side of a lower rim of the helmet shell 1, and an airbag 4 stored in the lower rim of the helmet shell 1. The gas generator 3 is connected to the airbag 4. The collision displacement sensor 2 is connected to the gas generator 3 through a restraint control module and a wire 5 in order for the gas generator 3 to release gas to inflate the airbag 4 when the collision displacement sensor 2 senses danger, therefore the airbag 4 forms an air curtain falling down to protect the cervical vertebra.

Current helmets in the market protect the brain from the damage caused during the impact, however the damage caused to the cervical vertebra during the impact still accounts for a large proportion, and the damage of the cervical vertebra is irreversible at the current medical level. The embodiment of the present invention is provided with an annular airbag 4 alongside the lower rim of the helmet shell 1, the airbag 4 is in the form of a cylindrical air curtain or a C-shaped air curtain when inflated. Usually the airbag 4 is folded and stored in the lower rim of the helmet, however when the collision strength reaches a dangerous value or the helmet suddenly shifts too much, the air curtain is ejected from the lower rim of the helmet to stand against the shoulder for supporting the helmet from pressing against the head and squeezing the cervical vertebra, therefore to reduce harm to the cervical vertebra.

The collision displacement sensor 2 is able to sense the collision and the instantaneous irregular displacement, and it determines the activation of the airbag 4 according to the displacement degree. The Restraint Control Module (RCM) is sometimes called the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The RCM transmits electrical signal as to whether or not to open the airbag 4 to the gas generator 3 according to the severity of the collision. The severity of the collision or the degree of the displacement is sensed by the sensor 2 and transmitted to the RCM (ECU) and the sensor 2 includes an electronic acceleration sensor, an electromechanical sensor, and a voltage type pressure sensor. It is also possible to provide a Doppler speed sensor to detect a relative speed of the helmet and a peripheral object of reference to determine whether or not to open the airbag 4. An infrared personnel sensor is also possible to detect whether the helmet is in use. The wire 5 connects the sensor 2 to the gas generator 3 to transmit an electrical signal generated by the sensor 2 to control the airbag 4. The release of the gas by the gas generator 3 works in the way that an igniter receives an electrical signal from the collision displacement sensor 2 to generate thermal energy to ignite the gas-generating agent therefore to break the pressure valve to release the gas. The gas generator 3 is selected from: a) gas-generating agent type, which uses a special chemical substance (gas generating agent) to instantaneously generate nitrogen, water vapor and the like through thermochemical reactions; b) accumulator type, which fills a high pressure gas, like Hydrogen, etc. in a pressure resistant container, and the energy from the igniter breaking through the pressure valve to instantaneously release the gas; c) hybrid, which is the combination of the gas-generating agent and accumulator type; d) two-stage gas filled type, which is assembled with two inflatable devices to achieve a good performance of the gas generation to change the amount of gas and gas production speed. The airbag 4 is inflated by the gas released by the gas generator 3. The cylindrical air curtain is used for the full helmet while the C-shaped air curtain is used for the half helmet. The airbag is mainly made of plain-woven nylon fiber, but silicon coating is available for ensuring air tightness.

Embodiment 2

This embodiment provides a method of hiding the airbag 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower rim of the helmet shell is provided with an annular groove 6 where the airbag 4 is usually folded and stored in. The artificial leather is broken when the airbag is opened. When the helmet collides or the degree of displacement reaches a dangerous level, the sensor detects then transmits the electric signal to the air generator 3 through the wire 5. The gas generator 3 instantaneously (usually within 25-35 milliseconds) inflates the airbag 4. The airbag 4 opens to surround and support the neck. The airbag 4 stands against the neck to support the helmet to reduce the pressure caused to the neck and protect the cervical vertebra from being squeezed and pressed.

The above-mentioned embodiments are the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Variations and modifications are allowed within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, such variations fall within the scope of the protection to the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A helmet with neck protection, comprising a helmet shell (1), a collision displacement sensor (2) disposed in the helmet shell (1), a gas generator (3) disposed at an inner side of a lower rim of the helmet shell (1), and an airbag (4) stored in the lower rim of the helmet shell (1); the gas generator (3) is connected to the airbag (4), the collision displacement sensor (2) is connected to the gas generator (3) through a restraint control module and a wire (5) in order for the gas generator (3) to release gas to inflate the airbag (4) when the collision displacement sensor (2) senses danger, therefore the airbag (4) forms an air curtain falling down to protect the cervical vertebra.
 2. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 1, wherein the collision displacement sensor (2) is an electronic acceleration sensor, an electromechanical sensor or a voltage type pressure sensor.
 3. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 1, wherein the helmet further comprises a Doppler speed sensor for detecting a relative speed of the helmet and a peripheral object of reference and/or an infrared personnel sensor for detecting whether the helmet is in use, the Doppler speed sensor and/or the infrared personnel sensor are/is connected to the restraint control module.
 4. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator (3) is selected from one or more of a gas generating agent type gas generator, a pressure accumulator type gas generator and a two-stage gas-filled gas generator.
 5. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 1, wherein the airbag (4) is made of plain-woven nylon fiber, and an inner surface of the airbag is formed with a silicon coating.
 6. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 1, wherein the lower rim of the helmet shell (1) is provided with an annular groove (6) receiving the folded airbag (4), an opening of the annular groove (6) is covered with an artificial leather layer.
 7. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 1, wherein the helmet shell (1) is a full helmet or a half helmet.
 8. The helmet with neck protection according to claim 7, wherein when the helmet shell (1) is the full helmet, the air curtain is cylindrical, when the helmet shell (1) is the half helmet, the air curtain is a C-shaped ring. 